Boat-carrying trailer



Nov.2,1948. f F, RAKE I 5 2,452,938

Filed Jan. 19, 1946 4 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 BOAT- CARRYING TRAILER F. KRAKE BOAT-CARRYING TRAILER Nov. 2, 1948.

Filed. Jan. 19. 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2- INVENTOR.'-'\ 2 2257-52 Keme5- All/ S Nov. 2,1948. F. KRAKE BOAT-CARRYING TRAILER Filed Jan. 19, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 F. KRAKE BOAT-CARRYING TRAILER Nov. 2, 1948.

Filed Jan. 19, 1946 izaen/a/ 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 f OSTE/B Q/QKE' ,m/ w, Wa

Patented Nov. 2, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT orn $452,938

BOAT-CARRYING .I'iRAILER Foster Krakafioloina, Mich, assignor to Sport ing specialties 'fiornpany, Coloina, Miclt a corporation of Michigan Applicationlianuary 19, 1946; SeriaI No. 642,226

'16 Glaims. 1

The present invention relates in :gen'eral-to carriers, and has more particular referencetoa trailer device for the transportation'of boatsand other objects, the invention havingspecifi'capplication to a carrier deviceadaptedto be drawn overland by a suitable tractor, :sueh 'as'atruck having a fifth wheel.

An important object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive and relatively light weight, yet strong and rugged, trailer construction "that can be manufactured at "relatively low cost as by utilizing structural elementscomprising connectible pipe stock; a further object being to provide a trailer that can be easily attached to r and detached from a suitabletractor.

Another important object is to'provideatrailer for an object, such as a boat, ofappreeiable size, wherein the object to be trar'isporte'd on the trailer may be quickly and easily. mountedin and demounted from suspended position. 7

Another important object is to provide a trailer adapted for connection with atractor and "including means whereby the trailer may'bejprojected outwardly of the tractor into extended position clear of the tractor while 'remainingattached thereto, "such extended position allowing the transportable object to be elevatedinto and lowered from suspended carrying-position in the trailer, the trailer being retractableffrom such extended position, 'into traveling position in which at least'the forward portions'of the trailer and an object suspended thereon extend in overlapping relationship above at least the rearmost portions of the tractor, whereby a'rnini'-' mum over-all length of trailer and tractor 'is accomplished.

Another important objectresides in providing a trailer having tractor-hitch means including rockable members whereby at least one end ofthe trailer may be supported on and attached to the tractor in outwardly projected loading andun loading position, and in'retracte'd traveling po'sition with respect to the tractor; 'afurther objectbeing to form such rockable-m'eans for easy=oper= ation to attain projected and retracted trailer positions with respect to the tractor.

Another important object is to provide novel means for anchoring the trailer against move: ment whereby to accomplish extension and retraction of the trailer by moving the tractor"'t0- ward and away from the trailer.

Another important object is to provide a trailer having wheels at one end and tractor-hitching means at the other, including extensible leg means for supporting the tractor connectible'end' 2 of' the trailer, when disconnected from 'thetractor;in either extended or retracted position.

Another important object is to provide improved suspension means for supporting a boat or other transportable object on the trailer.

A further object is to provide a carrier or trailer comprising spaced supporting wheels whereby'saidcarrier'may 'straddlethe object to be carried,-the trailer'being provided with power multiplying means for lifting or lowering the transportable object to Q1f10i1'l suspended 'position in-the frame; a furtherobject'being to pro vide for "disposing the trailer wheels outwardly on thetrailenfranie to allow the transportable object tobeliftedinto'andlowered from carrying positidn', and to return the wheels inwardly of said frame into traveling position beneath a transportable objectsuspended in-travling position o'nthe'frame.

The foregoing and numerous other important objects, ad-vantages, and inherent functions "or the invention will become apparent asthe invention isrnor'e filliy understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring tothe drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation View of a trailer embodying the present invention shown inpveiland traveling position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the forward portions, and Fig. 2a is a sideelevation'of'therearward portions of the trailer shown in extended loading and unloading position;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the trailer in ex-'- tended position; I

Fig.4 is a right-hand end elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view0f Fig. 1, in advanceofthe rear endof the trailer and just behind'the supporting springs; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectionalviews, respectively, taken substantially along the lines 6- 6 and As shown in the drawings, the'trailer may'em body a main "frame "l2'--l3 comprising apair of spaced apart longitudinally extending namemembersig, which may conveniently comprise I beams, disposed on the opposite sides of the trailer frame. At the opposite ends of the frame, the 'rn'ernb'ers 12 are connected together "and maintained in spaced relationship by front and rear transverse spacing and bracing beams t3 and I4, the intermediate portions of the frame verse beams "f5. Additionaltransverse beamsili and I! may be provided in position spaced from the front and back spacing beams l3 and I4, said beams l6 and I! providing mountings for hoisting apparatus 18 for raising and lowering an object, such as a boat l9, to and from supported position in the frame. The transverse bracing and spacing beams I3l'| may comprise suitable structural elements of any preferred form, including tubular members, although, as shown in the drawings, I beams may be utilized if desired. In either case, the transverse bracing and spacing beams may be welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the side beams 12 in order to form an integral trailer frame structure.

The frame is provided with dependent wheel carrying legs 20, on opposite sides of the frame, said legs each preferably comprising tubular members including a vertical dependent member 2!, fastened to and extending downwardly from the rear end of a longitudinal frame member l2, and an inclined bracing member 22, fastened to and extending between the forward portions of the frame member i2 and the lower portions of the dependent leg member 2|. Each leg structure in addition may include a bracing member 23, extending between and secured to the medial portions of the longitudinal frame member l2 and the inclined leg member 22, and an inclined bracing member 24, extending between and fastened to the rearward portions of the 1ongitudinal member !2 and the medial portions of the inclined leg member 22, whereby a skeletal wheel carrying leg structure, adequately braced in a fore and aft direction, is provided.

The wheel carrying legs 20 are also preferably braced transversely, as shown more particularly in Fig. 4, as by inclined bracing members 25, fastened to and extending between the end portions of the transverse bracing beam I 4 and the medial portions of the legs 20; the upper portions of the legs 20 and of the inclined bracing members may also be interconnected by bracing members 25 extending therebetween and fastened thereto. The leg structures 20 may also be transversely braced, as by inclined bracing members 2'! extending between the medial portions of the members 23 and adjacent end portions of a beam I5.

- If desired, the frame structure may also be braced by diagonal members extending between the longitudinal members I2 and any or all of the transverse bracing beams I 3-41.

The wheel carrying legs 20 may be provided each with a wheel 29, the wheels being mounted each on a dependent portion of the leg construction. To this end, each wheel is preferably journaled for rotation on an axle member 3!, which mayextend toward, and in axial alignment with the corresponding axle member of the other wheel. The abutting ends of the axle members may be secured together, preferably in detachable fashion as by means of a suitable coupling 32. On the outwardly facing sides of the wheel 29, the axles 3| may be provided each with a journal member 33 for turnably receiving the corresponding wheel mounting portion 30. The wheels and their axles may thus be mounted for rotational movement about the substantially vertical axes of the mounting portions 30. By disconnecting the coupling 32, both wheels may be turned on their respective mountings 30 into position extending outwardly of the wheel carrying legs, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. When in such outwardly turned position, the space between the legs is entirely unobstructed, thereby allowing the loading and unloading of a boat or other object on the trailer within the space between said legs 20. After loading or unloading, the trailer may be conditioned for overland transit by returning the wheels to normal traveling position inwardly of the legs and by replacing the coup-ling 32 in order to hold the wheels in traveling alignment. Means, such as a pin, adapted for removable engagement in aligned openings in the leg portions 30 and the mounting journals 33, may be provided to hold the wheels in outwardly turned position to allow the trailer to be rolled into or from position straddling the transportable object after it has been lowered from, or before it has been hoisted into carrying position on the frame.

At its forward end the trailer frame is provided with means for attaching the same to a tractor 34. To this end, the tractor preferably is provided with fifth wheel mounting means 35 adapted to hitch with a cooperatingfifth wheel 36, said fifth wheel comprising a member connected to the frame I 2l3 at theforward endthereof. As shown, the member 35 is mounted substantially centrally of a transverse I beam 31 to the opposite en.-.s of which are pivoted preferably tubular support members 38, the members 38 having ends pivoted, as at 39, to the I beam, and I beam remote ends pivoted, as at 49, in brackets secured'on' and to the longitudinal frame members I2 at or adjacent the forward ends thereof. Also pivotallyconnected on the I beam at 31 are support members 3!, the beam remote ends of which are pivoted, as at 42, on sleeve journal members 43, which slidably embrace the forward portions of the inclined leg members 22.

By blocking the frame |2--l3 against forward or rearward movement, the frame may be extended from the contracted traveling position,

shown in Fig. 1, to the extended loading position, shown in Fig. 2, by moving the tractor 34 forwardly with respect to the frame of the carrier, the sleeves 43 sliding forwardly on the forward portions of the bracing members 22, and the support members 38 rocking forwardly on the pivots 40. After unblocking the frame against movement, the carrier, in extended position and with its wheels 29 rotated outwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, may be backed into position above and straddling the object to be loaded, which ma then be elevated into suspended position in the frame [2-43 by the hoisting apparatus I8, which will be hereinafter more fully described.

-By reblocking the loaded carrier against movement, the same may be returned to folded traveling position b backing the tractor under the forward end of the carrier, thereby forcing the sleeves at rearwardly on the frame member 22 and causing rearward rotation of the members 38 on the pivots 40. The frame may be locked in either folded or extended position, as by means of pins fitting into openings formed in the sleeves 4,3 and in the members 22. After being locked in the folded or traveling position, the carrier will be ready for overland transportation by the tractor after the frame has been unblocked and the wheels 29 have been-returned from outwardly rotated position to the traveling position shown in solid lines in Fig. 4. The suspended device I9 may be unloaded by reversing the foregoing procedure.

., In order to provide for blocking the carrier against forward or rearward movement while the aasataes position or forced rearwardly to folded position, the frame may be provided with blocking bars having ends pivoted on the carriage and groundengaging ends for digging into the ground on the opposite sides of the wheels 29 to thus block the carriage against movement. To this end, the carriage may be provided with blocking members 68 pivotally mounted, as at 69, on the wheel carrying members 33, the members .68 being normally latched in raised inoperative position on the member 33. The members 58 are adapted, when unlatched, to rotate on their pivots 69 to allow the free ends thereofto engage and grip the ground on opposite sides of the wheel, to thus anchor the frame and block-movement thereof in either direction.

If desired, blocking members if), of substantially greater length than the members 58, may be pivotally mounted, as at H, on the members 2| and 22 adjacent the lower ends thereof. The members in may normally be suspended in raised, inactive position parallel with and latched to the members 2! and 22. The members it, however, may be unlatched and their free ends swung into position to engage the ground on opposite sides of the wheels 29 in order to block the carriage against movement.

In connection with loading and unloading operations it should be noted that a boat usually will be loaded in the trailer with its bow toward .the front end of the trailer, although a boat position in the frame lib-l3, the frame bracing members it and ll may be provided with brackets carrying pulley wheels Q6. The pulley wheels d6 are adapted to support flexible hoisting elements, such as ropes ll, means being provided to attach the ends of the ropes ll to the object if]. The ropes i? may extend from the pulleys to suitable winding mechanism, which may be mounted on the frame Hi -:3, as on the forward bracin member iii of the frame; or the winding mechanism may be mounted on the tractor 34. In such case, the forward frame member l3 may be provided with suitable br cke-t means carrying guide pulleys as for guiding the hoisting ropes ll to the winding mechanism on the tractor.

Suspension means, preferably in the form of leaf springs as, may be mounted on theframe, as at the transverse bracing member ii, in order to resiliently support the object is thereon. To

this end, the spring means 49 may be provided with ends formed for shackled connection with suitable bracket means 58 connected to the carried object it.

The bracket means 5! may comprise a yoke in the form of a transverse beam. adaptedto overlie the boat, near an end thereof, and formed with lugs 5i for attachment to the spring. The yoke forming beam may be anchored on the boat by means of inclined tension rods 52 detachably secured to theboat, as by means of a U-bo1t53- secured to a perforated lug Ed mounted on the keel of the boat. The beam 5t may be formed with an eye 55 for detachably receiving a hoisting hook on one of the ropes at.

The boat, near its other end, may be provided All 6. with atlug BEvadapted to lbe-detacha bly pinned to abracketblizhaving an eye portion 58 'forde tachably receiving a hoistingihook 'on-oneofxthe ropes Al. The cross-member that the hoisting pulley thereon, zmay be formed with dependent lugs-5s adapted-to'receivethe bracket 5'! therebetween, said lugs: andbracket being formed with openingsfor the removable reception .of a mounting pinrfifl whereby tosupport the forward-portions of' theboat on thexframe, the rearward portions being carried-on the springmeans 49.

In addition to the supporting means described in the immediately preceding paragraphs, auxiliary-suspension means maybe provided at the opposite ends of the frame \l2-l3, "the same comprising preferably :flexible fabric bands Bl adaptedto underlie the object it and to be connected atthe opposite ends of thebandswEiL to flexible chains 62, which may be connected on suitablebracket means on theframe members 12, on opposite sidesof the carrier, spring means 63 beinglconnected in themembers 62, ifdesired The coupling device as, at the forward end of theframe; .may-be of anysuitable or preferred form to enable the trailer to be secured on the tractor, It.may,and preferably does incorporate legmeans for supporting the forward end of the trailer when the same is disconnected from the tractor, Such support means may comprise a folding leg,.or legs 64! pivotally connected, as on the I beam 31, and normally supported in raised position detachably linked to the frame member 33. Theleg may be released from the member 38 and swung to the operative ground engaging position, shown in Fig. 2, and held in braced position by means of a bracing bar 65 detachably connectedto and extending between the leg and the movable frame member ii. In order that theleg may thus be braced in frame-supporting position when theparts 38 and M are in either extended or folding position, the member li may be provided with two spacedlugs as for the attachment of the bracing bar $5, one lug being used when the frame is to besupported in extended position, and the other being used when the frame is supported in retracted position. when the leg E i is not in use, the bracing bar Si;

may bemounted on the frame member di, asiby securing it to oneof the lugs and a spaced mountinglug Bl on the member M.

I If desired, the legs as maybe made adjustable as to length in order to support the coupling device 35 at a desiredelevatlon. To this end, each leg 5d may comprise telescoping screw-threaded members.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the invention provides a strong and rigid carrier particularly for boats andother elongated objects of substantial size, the carrier being adapted for overland transportation by suitable tractor means. The carriage, is provided with means forfa-= cilitating the mounting ofth-e object to be rie thereon. The carrier, furthermore, is provided with readily operable power multiplyinghoisting means, which may be either manual or POWGT-O13- ratedwinding mechanism, for lifting the object into carrying position in the frame. The novel arrangement whereby the wheels are mounted on thewcarrier in fashion allowing the same to opened outwardly to enable the carried object to be loaded, allows the carrier to have, minimum over-'allacarrying width compatible with "the maxi mumwidth of the carriedobject. Thenovel arrangement which allows .theforward end of the carrier -:tolbe supported in position overlying the rearward end of the tractor provides for a minimum over-all length of carrier and tractor durin overland transportation.

It is thought that the invention and its numerous attendant advantages will be fully understood from the foregoing description, and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the form herein disclosed being a preferred embodiment for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A carrier embodying a main non-collapsible frame, towing means at an end of said frame for detachable connection with a tractor, including ro-ckable support means and bracing means, both pivoted on the frame and also on the towing means, for supporting the frame, selectively, in carrying position with the end thereof overlying said towing means, and in extended position offset with respect to said towing means, whereby to allow a transportable object to be loaded and unloaded from said frame when in extended position, said supporting means and said bracing means being foldable towards and away from each other.

2. A carrier embodying a main non-collapsible frame, towing means at an end of said frame for detachable connection with a tractor, including a support means pivotally connecting one end of the support to the frame and the other end to the tractor, for supporting the frame, selectively, in carrying position with the end thereof overlying said towing means, and in extended position offset With respect to said towing means, whereby to allow a transportable object to be loaded and unloaded from said frame when in extended position, and means pivotally connected to the towing means and slidably and pivotally connected to said frame, to secure the said support means in either of said positions.

3. A carrier embodying a main frame, towing means at an end of said frame for detachable connection with a tractor, including rockable support means on the frame for supporting the same, selectively, in carrying position Witth the end thereof overlying said towing means and in extended position offset with respect to said towing means, whereby to allow a transportable object to be loaded and unloaded from said frame when in extended position, said frame having inclined lateral frame members on opposite sides thereof extending downwardly from said end of the frame toward its opposite end, and said rockable support means embodying a support member pivotally connected at its opposite ends, respectively, with said towing means and said frame, and a bracing member having an end pivotally connected with said towing means, and a remote end slidingly mounted on said inclined frame member.

4. A carrier comprising a main frame, towing means at an end of said frame for detachable connection with a tractor, including rockable support means on the frame for supporting the same, selectively, in carrying position with the end thereof overlying said towing means, and in extended position offset with respect to said towing means, whereby to allow a transportable object to be loaded and unloaded from said frame when in ex tended position, said frame having inclined lateral frame members on opposite sides thereof extending downwardly from said end of the frame toward its opposite end, and said rockable support means comprising a support member pivotally connected at its opposite ends, respectively, with said towing means and said frame, and a bracing member having an end pivotally connected with said towing means, a remote end slidingly mounted on said inclined frame member, and means to secure said rockable support means on the frame in either of said positions, comprising means for latching the sli-dably mounted end of said bracing member on said inclined member.

5. A carrier comprising a main frame, dependent frame supporting legs on the opposite side of.

said frame and carrying wheel mountings, towing means at an end of said frame, remote from said wheel mountings, for detachable connection with a tractor,including rockablesupport means on the frame for supporting the same, selectively in carrying position with the end thereof overlying said towing means, and in extended position offset with respect to said towing means, whereby to allow a transportable object to be loaded and unloaded from said frame when in extended position, said wheel mountings each carrying an axle, a wheel on each axle, said mountings being turnable on said legs to dispose said wheels selectively in normal position inwardly of said legs and in extended position outwardly of said legs to facilitate the loading and unloading of a transportable object on the frame in the space between said legs.

6. A carrier comprising a main frame, dependent frame supp n legs on the opposite side of said frame and carrying wheel mounting-s, towing means at an end of said frame, remote from said wheel mountings, for detachable connection with a tractor, including ro-ckable support means on the frame for supporting the same, selectively in carrying position with the end thereof overlying said towing means, and in extended position offset with respect to said towing means, whereby to allow a transportable object to be loaded and unloaded from said frame when in extended position, said wheel mountings each carrying an axle, a wheel on each axle, said mountings being turnable on said legs to dispose said wheels selectively in normal position inwardly of said legs and in extended position outwardly of said legs to facilitate the loading and unloading of a transportable object on the frame in the space between said legs, and means to latch said wheel mountings in either of said rotated positions.

'7. A carrier comprising a main frame, dependent frame supporting legs on the opposite side of said frame and carrying wheel mountings, towing means at an end of said frame, remote from said wheel mountings, for detachable connection with a tractor, including rockable support means on the frame for supporting the same, selectively in carrying position with the end thereof overlying said towing means, and in extended position offset with respect to said towing means, whereby to allow a transportable object to be loaded and unloaded from said frame when in extended position, said wheel mountings each carrying an axle, a wheel on each axle, said mountings being turnable on said legs to dispose said wheels selectively in normal position inwardly of said legs and in extended position outwardly of said legs to facilitate the loading and unloading of a transportable object on the frame in the space between said legs, said axles being adapted for aligned abutting endto-end relationship when said mountings are in normal position, and demountable clam means for securing the abutting ends of said axles together.

8. A carrier embodying a main frame, towing 9 meansat an endof sai-d'frame' for detachable con-- nection witha tractor, including rockable support means on the frame for supporting the same; selectively, in carrying position with the end thereof overlying said towingmeans, and in extended position offset with respect to said towin means, whereby sad su porting meansembodying two members pivotaliy connected by adjacent ends to the towing means, and pivotally connected at their opposite ends to the said frame at points remote from each other, said members bein'g'foldable towards and away from each other, :to allow a transportable object to be loaded and-unloaded from said frame when in extended position, supporting wheels on said frame remote from said towing means. and normally inoperative groundengag ng means on said frame and movable thereon to ground-engaging position to blo'k movement of said frame with respect to ground in at least one direction to allow said rockable support means to be moved from one of said positions to the other by moving the tractor-connect ng towing means with respect to the blocked frame.

9. A carrier embodying a main frame, tow ng means at an end of sad frame for detachable connection with a tractor, including rockable support means on the frame for supporting the same, selectively, in carrying position with the end thereof overlying said towing means, and inextended position offset with respect to sa d towing means, said supporting means embodying two members pivotally connected by adjacent ends to the towing means, and pivotally connected at their opposite ends to the said frame at points remote from each other, said members being foldable towards and away from each other, whereby to allow a transportable object to be loaded and unloaded from said frame when in extended position, supporting wheels on said frame remote from said towing means, and normally inoperative groundenga-ging means on said frame and movable thereon to ground-engaging position to block movement of said frame with respect to ground in at least one direction, to allow said rockable support means to be moved from one of said positions to the other by moving the tractor-connecting towing means with respect to the blocked frame, said ground-engaging means comprising bars having portions pivotally connected on said frame, remote portions formed for ground-engagement, and means to normally suspend said remote portions in inoperative position on said frame.

19. A carrier comprising a main frame, depend ent frame supporting legs on the opposite side of said frame and carrying wheel mountings, towing means at an end of said frame, remote from said wheel mountings, for detachable connection with tractor, including rockable support means on the frame for supporting the same, selectively in carrying position with the end thereof overlying said towing means, and in extended position offset with respect to said towing means, whereby to allow a transportable object to be loaded and unloaded from. said frame when in extended position, supporting wheels on said mountings, and normally inoperative ground-engaging means on said wheel mountings and comprising bars having portions pivotally connected on said wheel mountings, remote ground-engaging portions adapted to engage the ground to block movement of said frame with respect to ground in at least one direction, to allow said rockable support means to be moved from one of said positions to the other by moving the tractor-connecting towing means with respect to the blocked frame, and means normally suspending the ground-engaging portions of said bars in inoperative position on said wheel mountings.

11. A carrier embodying a main frame, towing means at an end of said frame for detachable connection with a tractor, including rockable support means on the frame for supporting the same, se-

lectively, in carrying position with the end thereof overlying said towing means, and in extended position offset with respect to said towing means, said supportingmeans embodying two members pivotally connected by adjacent ends to the towing means, and pivotally connected at their opposite ends to' the said frame at points remote from each other, sa d members being foldable towards and away fr'omea'ch other, whereby to allow a transportable object to be loaded and unloaded from said frame when in extended position, ground-engaging leg means on said towing means to support the same at a predetermined elevation with respect to ground when disconnected from said tractor, and means for supporting said g-round engaging leg means in inoperative position upon said rockable support means.

12. A carrier embodying a main frame, towing means at an end of said frame for detachable connection with a tractor, including rockable support means on the frame for supporting the same, selectively, in carrying position with the end thereof overlying said towing means, and in extended position offset with respect to said towing means, said supporting means embodying two members pivotally connected by adjacent ends to the towing means, and pivotally connected at their opposite ends to the said frame at points remote from each other, said members being foldable towards and away from each other, whereby to allow a transportable object to be loaded and unloaded from said frame when in extended .position, and hoisting means on said frame and operable to raise or lower a transportable object to or from carrying position on the frame.

13. A carrier embodying a main frame, towing means at an end of said frame for detachable connection with a tractor, including rockable support means on the frame for supporting the same, selectively, in carrying position with the end thereof overlying said towing means, and in extended position offset with respect to said towing means, said supporting means embodying two members .pivotally connected by adjacent ends to the towing means, and pivotally connected at their opposite ends to the said frame at points remote from each other, said members being foldable towards and away from each other, whereby to allow a transportable object to be loaded and unloaded from said frame when in extended position, hoisting means on said frame and operable to raise or lower a transportable object to or from carrying position on the frame, and means for suspending said object in carrying position.

14. A carrier embodying a main frame, towin means at an end of said frame for detachable connection with a tractor, including rockable support means on the frame for supporting the same, selectively, in carrying position with the end thereof overlying said towing means, and in extended position offset with respect to said towing means, said supporting means embodying two members pivotally connected by adjacent ends to the towing means, and pivotally connected at their opposite ends to the said frame at points remote from each other, said members being foldable towards and away from each other, whereby to allow a transportable object to be loaded and unloaded from said frame when in extended position, hoisting means on said frame and operable to raise or lower a transportable object to or from carryin position on the frame, comprising guide support ing hoisting ropes toward the opposite ends of said frame in position-for connection with spaced portions of the transportable object, and winding mechanism for said ropes.

15. A carrier embodying a main frame, towing means at an end-ofssaid frame for detachable connection with a tractor, including rockable support means on the frame for supporting the same, selectively, in carrying position with the end thereof overlying said towing means, and in extended position offset with respect to said towing means, said supporting means embodying two members pivotally connected by adjacent ends to the towing means, and pivotally connected at their cpposite ends to the said frame at points remote from each other, said members being foldable towards and away from each other, whereby to allow a transportable object to be loaded and unloaded from said frame when in extended position, hoisting means on said frame and operable to raise or lower a transportable object to or from carrying position on the frame, and means for suspending said object in carrying position, including spring suspension means for connecting the transportable object on said frame toward at least one end thereof.

16. A carrier embodying a main frame, towing means at an end of said frame for detachable connection with a tractor, including rockable support means on the frame for supporting the same, selectively, in carrying position with the end thereof overlying said towing means, and in extended position offset with respect to said towing means, said supporting means embodying two members pivotally connected by adjacent ends to the towing means, and pivotally connected at their opposite en-dsto the said frame at points remote from each other, said members being fold'a'ble towards and away from each other, whereby to allow a transportable object to be loaded and unloaded from said frame when in extended position, hoisting means on said frame and operable to raise or lower a transportable object to or from carrying position on the frame, means for suspending said object in carrying position, including spring suspension means for connecting the transportable object on said frame toward at least one end thereof, and means for suspending a remote portion of the transportable object on the frame toward its other end.

FOSTILR KRAKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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